Necklace Overload

I'm not hugely into lots of different types of jewellery: I don't do rings. Bangles annoy me. I usually can't be bothered with earrings or when I do try, my ears get irritated. However, I do like a nice necklace and usually that means big, bold, statement. (Who came up with that name, by the way? Works very well but I'm sure it's a fairly recent term.)

Anyway, by pure coincidence I received two Stella & Dot orders last week - and couldn't wait to wear the items I received! The necklace in pic 1 and 2 is actually the same one: it's called Utopia Statement Necklace and it's so versatile as you can combine the different elements to achieve completely different looks. By the way: I would like to point out that I did buy all of these myself and am not being paid for this post. Free advertising for Stella & Dot - just because I love those necklaces so much!

Dress: Jesire

Top worn underneath: H&M

Boots: Something Italian

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Dress: Jesire

Boots: Something Italian

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Top: Zara

Skirt: All Saints

Jacket: H&M

Boots: Yes... something Italian...

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Last of the Summer Sales - Boden

The summer sales have been going on for so long that by now you'd expect to be scraping the fashion barrel for any remaining items that are not only bargains but also actually wearable. I am trying to be really good as I think I keep creating a "need" where there truly is only a faint want but I still allowed myself a browse on one of my favourite online shops: Boden.

I generally buy knitwear, dresses and skirts at Boden and what I love is that they keep re-including certain favourite styles from season to season. Over the years I have now bought a few of those in different colours or prints. Boden's florals and other patterns were absolutely  gorgeous this spring/summer season but I couldn't justify buying lots of dresses and skirts - so now might be the time, especially with our summer feeling more like spring.

Earlier in the year, I already purchased the Eliza Tunic Dress in this Navy Leafy Trellis and have worn it lots. 










 
I also loved it in Lavender Grey Botanical but stuck to getting just the one. It's now down from £99 to £59.40, so I might just take the plunge.

Shortly after buying the dress, I got the Modern Pencil Skirt in the same pattern and as it fitted me so well I also bought it in Red Graphic Geo and am now tempted by the Green version of that colourway. That one is now down from £59 to £41.30 (or if you'd like the Red version, that's down to £29.50!).









The item I have been coming back for every season is the Cropped Cashmere Cardigan. Being petite, the cut is ideal for me as it ends above the hips and won't interfere with the waistline of a dress or a jutting out/voluminous skirt. The fact that it comes in lots of different colours, usually updated every season, just means you can pick one each season. They do machine wash, though I found they tend to shrink a fair bit after a while (even if you stretch them carfefully after washing), so after 2 years I bought another black one as my "older" one (left) black one is now *very* cropped and only fits over sleeveless topss. Normally selling for £89, the sale price dropped (depending on colour) to £44.50 - £71.20.
   
Are you still shopping the sales? And if so, what have you bought?

Girly Pastels

How have I not yet posted more about my favourite trend this season?!

Could it be that, although I am getting dressed in soft hues in my head, in reality a look out the window usually results in me pulling on the black tights & boot combo. Pastels on top of that don't really work. [let's challenge that!]

Anyway, in preparation of what will be very soon, I went a bit "all-over-pastel" on both highstreet and designer budgets. What do you think?

Highstreet - total spend £245

Highstreet Pastels by verystef featuring flower rings

Miss Selfridge tie dye dress
£69 - missselfridge.com

River Island green jacket
£65 - riverisland.com

ASOS stiletto high heels
£55 - asos.com

ASOS oversized handbag
£40 - asos.com

Dorothy Perkins flower ring
£8.50 - dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy Perkins stackable ring
£7.50 - dorothyperkins.com

Designer - total spend £4,045

Designer Pastels by verystef featuring vintage bangles

Roberto Cavalli multi colored dress
£860 - net-a-porter.com

Acne suede leather jacket
£1,100 - net-a-porter.com

Brian atwood pumps
£485 - mytheresa.com

Jil Sander shoulder handbag
£595 - mytheresa.com

Aurélie Bidermann vintage bangle
£785 - net-a-porter.com

Zoe B. Ltd clear earrings
£220 - maxandchloe.com

So which one is your favourite?

Patterned Blazer - wear it forever?

So I've been wearing my plain blazers like the good girl that I am and even if we're talking pastel colours, they will stand the test of time and give me a fantastic cost per wear ratio.

But what about patterned blazers? I have a H&M blazer that sits in the back of my wardrobe and rarely sees the light of day and this is mainly due that its pale blue floral pattern doesn't go with much. At the same time it's a bit too dull to stand out by itself.

I think the key is in getting a pattern that gives the blazer the chance to be the statement piece. Sure, this season we will be mixing and clashing our patterns but for the item to have real staying power and for you to love it and dig it out again and again, it needs to be special enough to look great next season, when we won't be so clash-mad anymore. 

There are some fantastic pieces out there, designer as well as high-street, and whereas my plain blazer top-choice was a Topshop beauty for just £40, the selection below will see me pick that beautiful tuxedo style, paisley print blazer from Etro.At £1,095 you'd want to get quite a few wears out of it!

patterned blazers - designer vs highstreet by verystef featuring a lace jacket

Alexander McQueen collarless jacket
£3,275 - mytheresa.com

Etro printed jacket
£1,095 - mytheresa.com

River Island lace jacket
£50 - riverisland.com

H m jacket
£30 - hm.com

H m jacket
£15 - hm.com

Stella McCartney striped jacket
£1,125 - liberty.co.uk

Wardrobe Staple Blazer Goes Spring

A plain blazer has got to be one of the main staples in my wardrobe - I'd say it probably is in most girl's wardrobe. It has the ability to smarten up an outfit in an instant, even jeans look super smart with a sharp blazer worn over it. Similarly it can take the edge of a dress that's a bit too sweet: smarter than a bike jacket but more edgy than a cardigan it will toughen up that pretty dress by lending a bit of androgynous style.

I have got a few blazers that have been with me for years: tux style from Zara, double-breasted mauve from Topshop, boyfriend in charcoal, beige with black piping (very public school) from Mango to name a few.

For this season I was looking for a pastel or candycolour blazer, especially since my mauve one has seen better days. The designers have paraded them around the catwalk and the highstreet has followed suit (ahem):

Spring Blazers - plain by verystef featuring a tux jacket

H M tailored jacket
£25 - hm.com

Maison Martin Margiela blazer
£985 - net-a-porter.com

Topshop cropped jacket
£55 - topshop.com

Boyfriend jacket
£40 - topshop.com

Tux jacket
£65 - topshop.com

Acne chambray jacket
£370 - mytheresa.com

Stella McCartney twill jacket
£995 - net-a-porter.com

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania jacket
£400 - net-a-porter.com

My favourite one is definitely the Topshop blazer in coral (sorry, Topshop: watermelon). I think it's just the right length and cut to be very versatile and in a colour that will go with lots of other items in my wardrobe. Spring is here!

Swatch vs Tiffany

No, I do not have any hot news about one of the big legal story (as reported by the Independent) surrounding the Swiss matchmaker and the place that girls dream of. I'm not so hot on my courtroom speak and actually I don't think it's that hot a story. Big money but all about a failed relationship rather than stolen designs. Well, we're not talking Louboutin vs YSL, are we?

Anyway, I just felt like a little Swatch vs. Tiffany face-off was in order. Opposite end of the budgets, but why not?!

images Swatch and Tiffany

£105 -Swatch

£105 -Swatch

£111 - Swatch

 
Tiffany -£3,890

Tiffany - £3,890

Tiffany - £7,720

I wonder whether the lovely people at Tiffany ever considered incorporating skulls into their designs...

Springtime Laptop Bags

I'm a bit of a geek. Not necessarily in a sit-in-a-corner-capable-of-a-Salander-like-hacker-overtake fashion and not even in a know-lots-of-answers-at-University-Challenge way. But I do like my gadgets, have been known to enjoy playing the odd board game (and no, Monopoly & co do not count!), put my CDs in alphabetical order and probably get most excited about accessories that have a real use and aren't just pretty to look at.

There is my Smythson iPhone cover in a gorgeous minty colour. My monogrammed Smythson travel wallet, which Mr. G gave me for my last birthday (and almost made me cry) and my Mulberry wallet (currently at the Mulberry clinic). All of these were selected carefully not just on looks but mainly on function, in fact, I stopped just short of unloading my wallet's content in the Mulberry store to stuff it all into some of the goods on display.

Carrying around my company laptop in its Dell bag, was not exactly a pleasant experience. Not only was the bag ugly (black, cheap polyester), it also wasn't as practical as I would have hoped an ugly bag to be; the strap for example was so long, that I could not carry it on my shoulder comfortably.

Looking for an alternative, I soon stumbled across Knomo, stylish, yet clever and functional bags for your laptop. I have since acquired a few different bags, trolleys and laptop sleeves there and can only recommend them for their quality, well-thought-out details and easy style.

I am currently carrying my laptop in this black Carnaby model, very classic and (I like this) not obviously looking like a laptop bag.

With spring in the air, fresh colours soon to be on my feet, and the highstreet awash with even more colour, I am lusting after something a bit fresher and in keeping with my brighter mood, so these are my favourites:

£950 Mulberry

£795 Mulberry

£245 LK Bennett

£150 Knomo

£40 Asos

£245 LK Bennett

£245 LK Bennett

£150 Knomo



Now, they are not all strictly speaking laptop bags, but big enough to accommodate one (within a sleeve, so there is my practical side coming through) and buying an item that can multi-task surely is the epitome of practicality?!